[78-L] Hank Williams awarded Pulitzer

[Cary Ginell]

Although I believe both Guthrie and Williams are deserving in their own ways, I would vote for Williams being the more inventive composer. Remember that Guthrie "borrowed" nearly all of his melodies from Carter Family records and traditional sources while most of Williams' work (with Fred Rose's assistance) were his own. Williams wrote of his own inner pain while Guthrie wrote as a representative of the people. It was Williams who influenced an entire generation of country music songwriters and singers. Along with Jimmie Rodgers, he probably had a greater influence on country music than any other single artist.  Both were great, both are deserving, but you can't qualify one versus the other. That just ain't fair, and Woody'd probly agree with me.

Cary Ginell

> Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:24:26 -0400
> From: mbiel at mbiel.com
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Hank Williams awarded Pulitzer
> 
> Bill McClung wrote:
> > I think Hank was deserving of this for all the great songs he did write but
> > Lost Highway was written by Leon Payne and recorded on Bullet in 1947.
> >   
> 
> So perhaps Leon Payne should have gotten the Pulitzer too?
> 
> I personally feel that Woody Guthrie is MUCH more deserving of the 
> Pulitzer than is Williams. His songs had REAL meaning, not merely 
> "writing and singing songs that reflected the hopes and struggles of 
> everyday Americans, . . . expressed universal feelings with poignant 
> simplicity". They mention they gave one to Dylan, and mention that 
> Williams "influenced a wide range of other musicians and performers,” -- 
> but Woody influenced Dylan.
> 
> Mike BIel mbiel at mbiel.com
> 
> > Tom <nice_guy_with_an_mba at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> If there was ever a better country song written than "Lost Highway"
> >> I have yet to hear it. Good for the Pulitzer organization that they've
> >> finally gotten around to recognizing Williams.
> >>
> >> Tom
> >>
> >>
> >> From: Cary Ginell <soundthink at live.com>
> >> http://www.pulitzer.org/files/2010williams.pdf
> >> They're cheering in Hillbilly Heaven.
> >> Cary Ginell
> 
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